Regulation of cluster compactness and resistance to Botrytis cinerea with β-aminobutyric acid treatment in field-grown grapevine

Authors

  • M. Kocsis Department of Plant Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • A. Csikász-Krizsics Institute for Viticulture and Oenology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • B. É. Szata Department of Plant Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • S. Kovács Department of Plant Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • Á. Nagy Department of Plant Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • A. Mátai Department of Plant Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • G. Jakab Department of Plant Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/vitis.2018.57.35-40

Keywords:

BABA (DL-β-amino-n-butyric acid); Botrytis bunch rot; cluster compactness; epifluorescent microscopy; female sterility.

Abstract

Our paper offers unique information regarding the effects of DL-β-amino-n-butyric acid (BABA) on grape cluster compactness and Botrytis bunch rot development. The impact of treatment was investigated on a native Hungarian grapevine cultivar, Királyleányka (Vitis vinifera L.) during four seasons. The cultivar with dense clusters and with thin skinned berries provided excellent samples for bunch rot studies. In addition, the female sterility effect of BABA in grapevine flowers was examined, which may contribute to looser clusters. Cluster compactness was characterized with two different indexes, bunch rot incidence was assessed in percentages. Ovaries of flowers were examined under epifluorescent microscope. The applied treatments significantly influenced cluster indexes. Bunch rot incidence, however, was highly influenced by the precipitation during ripening. In years 2011 and 2013 reduced bunch rot was detected, while the extremity of rain in 2012 and 2014, resulted in no epidemic or high infection, respectively. Microscopic studies proved that successful treatments on cluster structure can be traced back to the female sterility caused by BABA. Our results presented clear evidence for the effectiveness of BABA treatment on Botrytis bunch rot by promoting looser clusters.

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Published

2018-03-20

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 1 (2018): Vitis

Section

Article

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